Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Apple Inc. vs Proton AG
Where Apple Inc. and Proton AG differ
| Compare | Apple Inc. ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan limits | Aliases via Sign in with Apple are free with an Apple Account; changing the Forward To address requires iCloud+ | No data or speed limits, no ads, no time limit, 1 device, servers in 10 countries randomly selected, medium speed. |
| Platforms | iOS, IPadOS, MacOS, VisionOS, TvOS, WatchOS, Web | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV |
| Logging policy | Apple does not read or process relayed message content except standard spam filtering; messages deleted from relay servers after delivery, usually within seconds | No activity logs |
| Jurisdiction | US | CH |
| Price from | $0.99 | Not confirmed |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Privacy tool type | Not confirmed | Ad blocker |
Same on both: Free plan (Yes).
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Key differences
- Apple Inc. scores higher overall: 9.7 vs 9.3.
- Platforms: only Apple Inc. offers IPadOS, VisionOS, TvOS.
- Platforms: only Proton AG offers Windows, Linux, Chromebook.
- Support channels: only Apple Inc. offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Proton AG offers Email.
- Founded is lower at Apple Inc.: 1976 vs 2014.
- Pricing model: only Apple Inc. offers Budget.
Our verdict on each
Apple Inc.
Apple folds relay aliases, 5 gigabytes of free iCloud+ storage and passkeys into the platforms most people already own. It suits Apple only households wanting private storage in a single account, while readers who need storage they alone can read or end-to-end encrypted mail should look elsewhere.
Proton AG
Proton AG suits readers who want a published no-logs audit, a free tier and a bundled privacy suite rather than a bare tunnel, with the company based in Switzerland. Paid plans reach servers in from 140 countries and cover 10 devices, alongside free storage of 5 GB.
Score breakdown
| Area | Apple Inc. | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherEntry starts at $0.99 and monthly runs $0.99, under the €7.89 site median, with storage at $119.88 per terabyte per year. | 9.3 |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.4Term choice runs to 24 months with a 30-day refund window, and a free plan anchors entry pricing. |
| Privacy | 10.0Higher | 8.9 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Apple Inc. | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Switzerland |
Where these facts come from
Apple Inc.
- apple.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- support.apple.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Proton AG
- protonvpn.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- proton.me: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Apple Inc. | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 84 of 232 | 26 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 60 of 280 | 24 of 280 |
| Secure email and messaging | 12 of 60 | 5 of 60 |
| Secure cloud storage and backup | 17 of 70 | 8 of 70 |
| Free VPNs | 63 of 189 | 22 of 189 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free, BudgetCovers more | Free |
| Legal entity | Apple Inc. | Proton AG |
| Headquarters | United States | Switzerland |
| Founded | 1976Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community |
Password managers
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Not confirmed | Pass Family: up to 6 users, 6 Pass Plus accounts, admin panel |
| Passkeys | Yes | Yes |
| Security audit | Not confirmed | Independently audited by third-party experts; audit reports public |
| Encryption | Encryption and Data Protection | Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption, 256-bit AES-GCM vaults, OpenPGP with ECC Curve25519 for vault keys |
| Features | Screen time, Web filter | Kill switch, Split tunnelling |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | No | YesHas it |
VPN
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $0.99 | Not confirmed |
| Devices | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Server countries | Not confirmed | from 140 |
| No-logs audit | Not confirmed | Securitum, 2026 |
| Features | No logs, Travel | No logs, Streaming |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Streaming services | Not confirmed | Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video |
| Owner | Apple Inc. | Proton AG |
| Longest plan (months) | Not confirmed | 24 months |
Secure email
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | None of the mail is end-to-end encrypted: aliases are relayed and forwarded by Apple, which states it does not read or process message content except spam filtering | The VPN connection from the user's device to Proton's servers; Proton also markets Proton for Business with end-to-end encryption. |
| Custom domains | No | Not confirmed |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 5 | 5 |
| Price per TB per year | $119.88 | Not confirmed |
| Compliance certifications | Not confirmed | GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001 |
Parental controls
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton AG |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $0 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Apple Inc. | Proton AG | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.99lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $8 |
Median across 82 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Apple Inc.
Pros
- Sign in with Apple issues relay aliases at no cost to Apple Account holders, so the free plan is a real starting point rather than a trial.
- Entry sits at $0.99, below the $19.99 and $14.99 starting prices of the two paid alternatives here.
- A single subscription spans iOS, iPadOS and macOS, so storage and aliases need no extra purchase per device.
Cons
- iCloud+ storage is not sealed so that only the account holder can read it, and what is stored stays within Apple's reach under Encryption and Data Protection.
- End-to-end encryption is not offered for alias mail, since Apple Inc. relays and forwards it, so an alias is not a private channel for sensitive messages.
- Custom domains are not available, so an alias cannot sit on a domain you own.
Proton AG
Pros
- No-logs claims are audited rather than asserted: Securitum's audit (Securitum, 2026) sits behind a No activity logs policy.
- Free limits come with no caps on data or speed, no ads and no time limit.
- 10 simultaneous devices, above the ranked VPN median of 8.
Cons
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, and there is no phone line among them.
- The free plan limits put you on a single device at medium speed with randomly selected countries, so constant use points at a paid plan.
- End-to-end encryption is marketed for Proton for Business, while the consumer plan encrypts only the connection from your device to Proton's servers.
Who each suits
Apple Inc.
Who it suits
- Apple households that already pay for iCloud+ and want more capacity plus relay aliases from the same account.
- Readers who want one subscription across iOS, iPadOS and macOS instead of separate tools per device family.
- People willing to trade storage their provider can still read for low entry pricing and broad platform reach.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who need end-to-end encrypted mail or storage only the account holder can read, since neither is part of what the plan includes.
- Buyers shopping for a free standalone security toolkit, since Token2 hands over an in-browser authenticator toolset and a QR decoder without creating an account.
- Shoppers who want a priced privacy product outside the Apple ecosystem, where EasyOptOuts at $19.99 and Vipre Security at $14.99 are the paid comparisons here.
Proton AG
Who it suits
- Readers who want a VPN, a passkey vault and encrypted storage under a single account instead of separate subscriptions.
- Families sharing storage, since Pass Family covers several users and Pass Plus seats through a single admin panel.
- Teams buying under a business audience (business) who need GDPR, HIPAA and ISO 27001 certifications on file.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone needing more devices on a single account: Proton covers 10, while ESET Brasil plans run 3 to 25 devices.
- Readers choosing purely on server spread: AVG lists from 100 countries, a base close to Proton's from 140.
- Readers who want a different audit trail to compare: Session Technology Foundation lists Quarkslab 2021 against Proton's Securitum, 2026.
Current offers
Apple Inc.
Current offer
Free trial
Get 3 months of Apple One free with any new iPhone, iPad, or Mac: 3 months free
New and qualified returning subscribers only. $21.95 or $27.95 or $39.95 per month after trial based on plan selected. Only one offer per Apple Account and per family. Not available if a previous three-months-free offer was accepted. Offer good for three months after eligible device activation. Plan automatically renews until cancelled.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Apple Inc.
What does iCloud+ cost to start?+
iCloud+ starts at $0.99, and the monthly rate is the same figure, $0.99. Storage is the only part that carries a charge; Sign in with Apple aliases stay at no cost to Apple Account holders. For context, the median entry price across the brands compared here is €6.84.
Is there a free plan and what does it cover?+
A free plan is part of the service. Sign in with Apple issues relay aliases at no cost to anyone holding an Apple Account, and free storage stands at 5 gigabytes with a yearly price of $0. The limit: repointing an alias at a different inbox needs iCloud+.
Proton AG
What does Proton VPN cost, and how long are the commitments?+
The longest plan runs 24 months, the service is listed on a free model, and paid plans carry a 30-day money-back window. Across the ranked VPN field, monthly pricing has a median of €7.02 and long-term pricing a median of €3.97, which frames any quote you see.
Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?+
Yes. The free plan has no caps on data or speed, no ads and no time limit. It runs on a single device, reaches servers in a randomly selected group of countries and delivers medium speed, so the paid tier, which covers 10 devices, is the practical step for constant use.
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